"Brits are more in touch than ever before but crave analogue experiences amid a perceived overreliance on tech. Brands that help balance 'real' connections with the benefits of digital innovation will hold mass appeal."
Rich Shepherd, Associate Principal - Consumer Insights
UK consumer spending grew by an estimated 4.6% in 2025, to £1.9 trillion. Growth remains predominantly driven by inflation, and consumers continue to take a cautious approach to discretionary purchasing. Price sensitivity means competition within and between categories is high, but Brits are still keen to spend on affordable luxury.
Despite near-constant online connectivity, many Brits experience loneliness, creating a craving for more meaningful in-person connections. Brands that help bridge this divide by facilitating real-world interaction and belonging will reinforce their relevance and create loyalty with both digital and analogue consumers.
As AI becomes more commonplace, the key for brands is in finding a balance between AI-driven convenience with initiatives that provide authentic human connection. Successful brands will invest in transparent, problem-solving AI while retaining the human touch. Going too far too quickly on AI carries significant risk, as 70% of Brits already think life was better when tech played a less central role.
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One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.
They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.
We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.
As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.
We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.
We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.
Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.
At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.
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